My dream came true in 2021

Always was looking at aurei from Augustus, so beautiful!

Well, it was in 2021 when I won this issue, after a "hard battle" with other bidders.

The reverse has a cut a 9 o'clock and surely there are better ones, but I am truly happy to have this one and only Augustus aureus in my collection:

7.912 g, 18.73 x 18.65 mm, 12h
Lugdunum, 8 BC

RIC I 200; Lyon 64 (unlisted dies); Calicó 235; BMCRE 492 = BMCRR Gaul 215; BN 1451-2; Biaggi 123; Mazzini 174;

Ob.: ΛVGVSTVS DIVI • F, laureate head right
Rev.: Jupiter Augustus, bareheaded and togate, seated left on curule chair set on low daïs, extending his r. hand toward a cloaked Gaul or German on left, standing right, presenting a child held out in both hands toward Augustus. IMP • XIIII in ex

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Augustus' fourteenth acclamation as imperator dates these issues to 8/7 BC, but the reference can only be to the event that predates these coin issues from the Lugdunum mint - Drusus died at the beginning of 9 BC. The date of issue means that they are part of a larger series that came out for Tiberius' triumph in 8/7 BC.

Augustus did pose as Jupiter's chosen intermediary in public ritual in Rome. At the celebration of his triumph of 8 AD in 12 AD, Tiberius mounted to the Capitolium, as specified in triumphal rite, to lay his laurels on the lap of Jupiter Capitolinus: but first, he fell at the knees of Augustus and did him homage in a totally unprecedented public ceremony that made Augustus a kind of pseudo-Jupiter, giver of victories (Suetonius, Tiberius, 20).

Particularly, I like that the barbarian has a dignified posture, he is standing, and handing a little child over to the emperor's protection.

In the time of emperor Augustus (from 27 BC to 14 AD) an aureus had considerable value. It was approximately worth one monthly wage and was enough to feed a family in Rome for one month.

Please share your aurei you always dreamt of and are in your collection

 

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great coin, worthy of being a best of the year coin.
I have only a few Imperial coins. I do have half of this one, in silver.

 

That's beautiful, @cmezner. The cut really doesn't detract from its appearance at all. I don't know if I'll ever be able to exercise the willpower to refrain from buying any other coins for long enough to save enough money for an aureus!

 

Kudos Sir Richard........

 

My experience is that if you want it really badly you'll be able

 

That don't work at my age.........

 

it always works, at any age

 

Keep 'up' the good work.........

 

Absolutely fantastic coin, real eye candy, congrats.

 

Quite right.

 

I admit I'm confused. Who's Sir Richard?

 

The coat of arms (avatar) of the OP reminded me of Richard the Lionheart......

 

Thank you all for your kind comments.

 

Sometimes stuck in a memory........

 

Very nice Aureus It will be happy in your collection. I always wanted an Elagalabus aureus/ ended up getting one in Triton II

 

Very nice aureus, @cmezner. Thanks for sharing!
Augustus' portrait is beautiful. I won't mind the cut on reverse.

I also picked up my aureus earlier this year. As a Faustina fan, I am so glad to pickup an aureus of A. Pius. It has a scratch on reverse, thus making it affordable to me. I really like the portrait.

Antoninus Pius. AV aureus. Rome 157-158 AD
17mm, 6.90 gm, 6h
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG-PIVS P P IMP II, laureate head of A. Pius.
Rev: TR POT XXICOS IIII, Salus standing facing, head right, feeding out of patera in left hand serpent held in her arms.
RIC III 279a. Calicó 1684.
Originally in NGC slab. AU 4/5 - 3/5.

 

Wonderful aureii @panzerman and @happy_collector - I think we all pursue to have one aureus of an emperor who is of one's special interest. Thank you so much for sharing yours, they are amazing

 

Congratulations! That is an amazing coin! I have zero aureii, nor any ancient gold coin for that matter I like the image on the reverse. It also reminds me of the German series Barbarians, where one of the main characters was given as a hostage as a child, to ensure peace between the Romands and the Germanic tribe.

 

The avatar of cmezner shows the coat of arms of the Czech Republic - the Bohemian lion. Richard the Lionheart' coat of arms shows three lions (which are actually three leopards).